Indonesia mourns loss of Pope John Paul II

Asian Economic News, April 4, 2005

JAKARTA, April 3 Kyodo

Indonesian President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono on Sunday mourned the passing of Pope John Paul II, saying he was a figure of high tolerance.

''On behalf of the people and government of Indonesia, I convey our deep condolence over the death of Pope John Paul II, who just passed away a few hours ago,'' Yudhoyono told a press conference at the State Palace.

''We know him as a figure who had a high tolerance and supported inter-faith freedom and dialogue,'' the president said.

He added that the government will send Coordinating Minister for People's Welfare Alwi Shihab, Religious Affairs Minister Muhammad Maftuh Basyuni and former Ambassador to the Vatican Freddy Numberi to the pope's funeral.

Meanwhile, many mourned by attending masses across the world's most populous Muslim country. In the easternmost province of Papua, thousands of people packed its cathedral, which flew the Indonesian flag at half mast.

Indonesia was the 76th country visited by the pope in 1989.

At the time, he visited and held masses in the capital Jakarta, the cultural city of Yogyakarta, the town of Maumere on the eastern island of Flores that was the center of Catholics in the country and the North Sumatra provincial capital of Medan.

During the six-day Indonesian visit, he also flew to East Timor, which was then still under Indonesia's occupation.

Eighty-eight percent of the country's population is Muslim and Catholics only represent 1 percent of the population.